As per the findings of the study, 82% of physicians believe it is extremely essential for a doctor to set an example for patients by leading a healthy lifestyle, while 17% of doctors think it is moderately important. Patients frequently receive advice from doctors on how to enhance and maintain their health. Physicians have received training to address social and lifestyle issues including poor diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking, all of which can have serious negative effects on health. This study sought to determine whether or not doctors adhere to their own recommendations for healthy habits.

Doctors recommend their patients to engage in regular exercise and having a proper diet (11%), followed by limited alcohol use and quitting smoking (10%). Other good practices include maintaining a healthy weight (9%), getting enough sleep (9%), managing stress (8%), practicing self care (7%), monitoring cholesterol (6%), keeping up with routine health screenings (6%), and abstaining from recreational drug use (6%).

Of the healthy habits that doctors suggest to their patients, doctors themselves regularly practice exercise, avoidance of smoking, eating properly, and limiting alcohol use. As found, 14% of doctors personally struggle with stress management and getting enough sleep, 13% of them struggle with exercise, 10% find managing weight a struggle, and the rest struggle with keeping up with health screenings, eating right, self-care, monitoring cholesterol, limiting alcohol use, and quitting smoking.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is neither simple nor difficult for the majority of doctors. However, 29% of doctors reported it to be difficult while 23% of doctors find it easy.  Notably, doctors identify time/schedules (31%), stress (22%), a lack of self-control (18%), motivation (15%), and financial expenditures (2%) as their barriers in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In general, 41% of doctors occasionally refer themselves as a personal example when instructing patients on how to maintain their health, 35% do so frequently, and 23% never do.